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DaimlerChrysler is Looking for a Few Good Aspiring New York Poets

27 October 1999

DaimlerChrysler is Looking for a Few Good Aspiring New York Poets

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 27-- It's rhythm and a sense of
meaning.  It's the voice of a great poet.  The art of the spoken word.
Poetry.
    DaimlerChrysler is looking to showcase aspiring New York area
poets and writers during its December 6 "The Spirit in the Words" poetry
program in partnership with Poets & Writers, Inc.
    Scheduled to be held at B. Smith's Restaurant & Rooftop Cafe, 771 Eighth
Avenue at 47th Street, the theme of the 6-10 p.m. event is "moving people
through poetry."
    "We're committed to the support of the arts and share in the hopes and
dreams of many people who enjoy the art of the spoken word," said W. Frank
Fountain, DaimlerChrysler's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs.
"It's programs like this that foster a renaissance in written and spoken art."
    New York is the final stop of the five city tour for 1999 that includes
Seattle, Philadelphia, Detroit and Los Angeles.
    According to the National Endowment of the Arts, 24 million people in the
U.S. write creatively for their own fulfillment.  Of those, 2.3 million
reported having published their work.
    Nearly 300 U.S. universities have established graduate poetry programs
since the mid-1970s and the best ones are overflowing, according to the
Seattle Times.
    DaimlerChrysler has published and distributed over 10,000 copies of "The
Spirit in the Words" poetry book that includes the works of more than 50
aspiring U.S. poets and writers.  The company published the first edition in
1997 with "The Spirit in the Words: a collection of African-American poems."
    The company's poetry program was started in 1994 in Detroit, Mi. during
February Black History Month with 47 journalists-poets and has grown to over
200 participants that include DaimlerChrysler senior management, poets and
city officials.
    In 1998, "Spirit in the Words" poetry events were held in Detroit and
Atlanta, Ga. during the National Black Arts Festival, which brought together
over 400 artists who specialize in theatre, dance, music literature and visual
art.
    "DaimlerChrysler made a commitment to not only the arts but also literacy
because the appreciation of art and reading is a part of our daily ritual,"
said Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, President of The Literary, a Philadelphia-based
Public Relations agency.
    Aspiring poets and writers who would like to be considered as contestants
should submit no more than three original poems and a one-paragraph biography
to Alan Miller via e-mail at: aem@daimlerchrysler.com or fax 248-512-3002.
Entry deadline is Monday, November 29, 1999.  Ten finalists will be promptly
notified by telephone.
    Judges will select first, second and third place winners.  Winners may
include open mike participants.  The first place prize is an all expense paid
trip to Ashland Writers Conference in July 2000 to Ashland, Oregon.  Second
place prize is a $100 gift certificate.  Third prize is a pen set.
    Each winner will have their poetry published in the next edition of "The
Spirit in the Words" poetry book.